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Actors Bandô Mitsugorô III (R), Iwai Kumesaburô II (CR), Onoe Kikugorô III (C), Segawa Kikunojô V (CL), and Ichikawa Danjûrô VII (L)


三代目坂東三津五郎  二代目岩井粂三郎  三代尾上菊五郎  五代目瀬川菊之丞  七代目市川団十郎
Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) (Japanese, 1786–1864)
Japanese
Edo period
about 1827 (Bunsei 10)

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (surimono); ink, color, and metallic pigment on paper
Dimensions Shikishiban pentaptych; 20.5 x 91.2 cm (8 1/16 x 35 7/8 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.19898, 11.19900-19903
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Carpenter et al, Reading Surimono (2008), #198 (3 sheets of 5); Chiba Museum, Edo no surimono (1997), #270; Keyes, Surimono (Spencer Museum cat., 1984), pl. 36, cat. nos. 138-40; Rijksmuseum cat. IV, Hiroshige and the Utagawa School (1984), #124
DescriptionPentaptych: 11.19898 (L), 11.19900 (CL), 11.19901 (CR), 11.19902 (C), 11.19903 (R); virtual record: 11.19898VR (11.19898, 11.19900-19903)

Apparently an imaginary performance (mitate) rather than an actual production.

Poems on CR translated in Carpenter et al 2008, p. 316; poems on L and CL partially translated in Keyes 1984, p. 94.
Signed Gototei Kunisada ga
五渡亭国貞画
InscriptionsCenter right sheet (11.19901):
Poem by Shuntei Keiba: Harukaze no/ chikara ni orenu/ aoyagi wa/ tsuyoki omina no/ sugata to zo miru
Poem by Kantei Kokuba: Aoyagi no/ omina sugata ni/ haru no yo no/ tsuki no kagami no/ kagi zo soikeri

Center left sheet (11.19900):
Poem by Kôeisha Michio, formerly Edanoya Matsukage: Haru no megi/ tawamu yanagi mo/ musuborete/ osaerarete wa/ kaze no kaori ni
Poem by Amatsunoya Hoshimaro: Kuramakire/ masashiku sore to/ harukaze no/ tegotae no seshi/ ina sasahara

Left sheet (11.19898):
Poem by Fukidô Iwao: Nubatama no/ yami no yokaze no/ tesaguri ni/ yamaji no ume no/ ka ya yobauran
Poem by Roan: Surechigau/ kasumi no sode mo/ haru no yo no/ yami wa ayanashi/ miegate ni shite

五枚続、右から
一「静屋稲馬 青柳の糸織ませて春風にそよく錦の旗さくら花」
「文月庵梶馬 春の夜の闇はあやなし綾杉の木立つゝみて霞こめけん」
二「駿亭競馬 春風の力にをれぬ青柳はつよきをみなの姿とそみる」
「関亭黒馬 青柳のをみな姿に春の夜の月のかゝみのかけうはひけり」
三「水戸 梅廼門和歌馬 梅の花養ふならん雨もちて闇にほのめく風のはた雲」
「橘堂彳 もとりても目にちらつきて音羽やまみゆる尾上の花の俤」
四「枝の屋松景改江英舎路雄 風の手におさへられてはむすほれてたわむ柳もはるの女木」
「美都廼屋星麿 くらまきれまさしくそれと春風の手ごたへのせしいなのさゝ原」
五「富亀堂巌 ぬは玉の闇の夜風の手さくりに山路の梅の香やにはふらん」
「すれ違ふ霞の袖も春の夜の闇はあやなしみえかてにして 芦庵」
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850 - d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: August 3, 1911)

NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.